Review of the 2015 Rugby World Cup

The 2015 Rugby World Cup will go down as the best ever edition; such was the quality of drama and rugby that the next edition in Japan will have much work to do to match.  

Here's a look back at the World Cup that has been, starting with the team of the tournament. 

Team of The Tournament - 

Fullback – Ben Smith (NZ) 

An outstanding tournament for the Otago and Highlanders fullback who only blotted in his copybook close to the end with a justified yellow card for a spear tackle that threatened to ruin his teammates' fairytale ending. From such unlikely beginnings, Ben from accounts should now be rightfully considered one of our best ever fullbacks. 

Honorable mention should go to Argentina's Santiago Cordero who lit up a previously unheralded backline. 

Right Winger – Nehe Milner-Skudder (NZ)

The most consistent winger of the tournament - outstanding from start to finish. Hard to believe that the Manawatu flyer who was born at a pit stop in Taihape on the way to his home in Palmerston North, only really emerged this year after a stellar Super Rugby campaign for the Hurricanes. No longer a star in the making; Milner-Skudder's star is already shining brightly. 

Honorable mention should go to South Africa's JP Pietersen who enjoyed an Indian summer of a tournament 

Left Winger - Julian Savea (NZ)

Questions were raised about Julian Savea's form going into this World Cup after a run of tryless games. Savea ended that drought against Namibia and continued to fire, peaking with a memorable hat-trick against France which included the individual try of the tournament. While the semifinal and Final were quiet for Savea on the try-scoring front, there was no disputing his industry as he caused havoc down the left flank. 

Honorable mention should go to Argentina's Juan Imhoff who showed that Pumas really can have wings.  

Centres – Ma’a Nonu (NZ), Sonny Bill Williams (NZ)

I decided to put both centres together given that Nonu shone playing both inside and outside centre, and SBW's impact off the bench was just too much to ignore. It's hard to believe that this is Nonu's 12th year in black - he could play another 12 with this form. This tournament marked him out ahead of his idol, Tana Umaga and his predecessors, as the best centre in All Blacks history. SBW brought league handling skills to a tournament already overflowing with sublime skills and shut down haters after a quiet Super Rugby campaign. 

Honorable mention should go to South Africa's Damian de Allende who might have sent Jean de Villiers into retirement and the other All Blacks centre, Conrad Smith who is solid and dependable as always - the other half of the greatest centre partnership in All Blacks history. 

First Five – Dan Carter (NZ)

Finally a World Cup to savour for the finest first five ever in history and boy did he deliver particularly in a World Cup Final that will be his signature game and not dissimilar to Pele's performance in the 1970 World Cup Final. Will leave the game as a true great of the game. 

Honorable mention should go to Argentina's Nicolas Sanchez who finished top points scorer of the tournament and was key to the arrival of Los Pumas as rugby superpower.

Halfback – Greig Laidlaw (SCO)

There were quite a few good halfbacks in this tournament including New Zealand's dynamic Aaron Smith and Australia's enigmatic Will Genia but Scotland's Greig Laidlaw takes my cap for leadership and charisma. His goalkicking kept Scotland in the contest against Argentina and it was his brave decision to go for the try rather than the posts against Samoa that sealed their place in the quarterfinals ahead of the Brave Blossoms. 

No. 8 – David Pocock (AU)

One of the stories of this remarkable Rugby World Cup - from career ending injury to heart and soul of the team, David Pocock's story is one of the great comeback stories in world sport and deserved a fairytale ending. Alas, Pocock's bloodied face will go down as one of the iconic images of this World Cup - souvenirs from his industry at the breakdowns. 

Openside Flanker – Richie McCaw (NZ)

Need I say more. Even in the last days of his rugby career, McCaw was an enigmatic as he was in his first test against Ireland in 2001. The All Blacks have had some fine openside flankers but McCaw is now surely the greatest of them all. On the night of nights, he outshone David Pocock, one of the most influential players of any tournament. 

Blindside Flanker – Jerome Kaino (NZ)

A close call between big Jerome and Australia's Scott Fardy, but Jerome just about takes it on the basis of his performance in the Final. Kaino showed his best from 2011 and was a menace with or without ball in hand. After two World Cups and a shoulder reconstruction, this might very well be his bow from All Blacks rugby too.

Locks – Brodie Retallick (NZ), Sam Whitelock (NZ)

The best locking partnership in All Blacks history. Retallick and Whitelock were immense in the lineouts, stealing lineout after lineout in the semifinals and Final. They were fearsome in the loose too. 

Honorable mention should go to South Africa's Lood de Jaager and Eben Etzebeth who in time could match Retallick and Whitelock and their predecessors Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha as a lineout partnership to fear.

Tighthead Prop – Ramiro Herrera (ARG)

Argentina's scrum was the best at this World Cup and Herrera was one of the reasons why. He caused the experienced Tony Woodcock plenty of problems when Los Pumas played the All Blacks first up at Wembley and only got better after that. 

Hooker – Dane Coles (NZ)

While this World Cup saw two hookers made for outstanding captains, i.e. Stephen Moore and Gus Creevy, my pick for hooker goes to Dane Coles who must surely be the fastest and most athletic hooker in world history. Most importantly, Coles never through a crooked lineout throw during this tournament and was solid in the scrums.   

Loosehead Prop – Marcos Ayerza (ARG)

The other pillar of a dominant Pumas scrum and gave his opposing tightheads nightmares in ensuing nights. 

Honorable mention should go to Joe Moody who transformed from NPC player to world champion in the space of two weeks. His form ensured that Wyatt Crockett's injury was a mere footnote. 

Individual Try of the Tournament - Julian Savea v France 

You could watch this try over and over again. It was very much like Jonah Lomu against England. Indeed you could say Savea's try was better as he took out two more players. The iconic All Blacks try of the tournament. 

Team Try of the Tournament - Fiji v Uruguay

Pure counterattacking brilliance. A shame that Fiji were put in such a tough pool - the only blot on a brilliant World Cup.

Moment of the Tournament - Karne Hesketh's try for Japan v South Africa

What more can you say. Winning try that sealed the greatest upset in World Cup history and the most important in Japanese rugby's history. Roll on 2019!